Alan Shields - Post-Minimalism
«Alan Shields was a celebrated American Post-Minimalist artist. His brightly colored, unstretched textile paintings investigated the grid: Often using industrial cotton belting, Shields cut, beaded, sewed, and dyed monumental abstract pieces, using crafting techniques or humble materials throughout his interdisciplinary practice. Shields’ work is both playful and psychedelic, evocative of the counter-culture scene of his time. Influenced by the radical ideas and designs of architect Buckminster Fuller, Shields began incorporating geodesic-like tent structures in his work, such as Whirling Dervish (1968–70) and Dance Bag (1985). Born on February 4, 1944 in Herington, KS, Shields studied studio art, civil engineering, and theater at Kansas State University, but never graduated. His career began with a successful show in 1969 at Paula Cooper Gallery, which continued to exhibit his work for the rest of his life. Shields became a memorable figure in the New York art scene, known his hand-made clothes featuring colorful patterns and beads.
